Before we get started on this story, I would like to take a moment to point out that youd be hard pressed to find any point where Ive been anything but a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, as I would hope most regular readers know. Ive taken flack for it from a lot of people this year, ranging from family members to folks in the media. But even approaching it from that sort of position, Ive got to say that this is a really bad idea.

A march on Washington with loaded rifles

"Libertarian activist and radio host Adam Kokesh is hoping to get 1,000 people to march on Washington on July 4  armed with loaded rifles. The plan, launched with a Facebook group today, is to gather on the Virginia side of the Potomac, where gun laws are lax, and then march across the bridge with loaded rifles slung over their shoulders into the District, where openly carrying weapons is generally prohibited."

This will be a non-violent event, the Facebook group warns, unless the government chooses to make it violent. Already, over 200 people have said theyll attend the march."

The plan is to march over the bridge, around the Capitol building, the Supreme Court and the White House, all with loaded rifles slung over their shoulders. Honestly, its difficult to imagine a worse idea, particularly in the midst of a heated debate with gun grabbers in the government. Kokesh describes this as an act of civil disobedience but it falls well short of that goal. If he wanted to promote an act of peacefully breaking the law to make a point, it would certainly be worthy of considering. For example, you could take a large number of people to block the entrance to the main office of the A.T.F and force the police to arrest and remove you. But this is something very different.

Showing up with a thousand (or even a few hundred) people openly carrying loaded weapons and marching toward the Capitol is not something that law enforcement is going to play around with, particularly when you announce it in advance. And theyre not going to allow the march to proceed peacefully either. Normally Id write this off as a bad idea that wouldnt gain widespread support, but the problem here is that it doesnt need widespread support. It would really only take a few hundred really upset people to get it rolling. And even if most of them intend it to be peaceful, when the officials show up to arrest them, weapons drawn, you have the potential for disaster which Rick Moran foresees.

"With the furor over gun rights and the governments efforts at gun control, this march is likely to attract enough people to make it an extraordinarily dangerous event. Who knows what kooks will be marching? Most marchers will no doubt be level headed and sincere in their desire for a non-violent event. But it only takes one unbalanced person to cause a tragedy."

Sensible gun owners, along with the NRA, are making the point that the government needs to respect the rights of law abiding, responsible gun owners and spend their time chasing the actual criminals. There could be no better gift to hand to gun rights opponents than to have a bunch of people get arrested for breaking established (if really bad) gun laws or, worse, getting in a shootout with the cops. This is not the type of representation we need in this debate.

UPDATE: (Jazz) From the Boss Emeritus. Was this all a dodge?

"[Kokesh] marched in uniform in mock patrols for the anti-war movement, paraded around holding an upside-down American flag (see Jonn Lilyea for more), was arrested for defacing signs, and traveled to Germany to urge soldiers to abandon their posts and seek aid and comfort with his anti-war minions."

"Kokesh, believe it or not, is now running as a Republican candidate for Congress in New Mexico. And, believe it or not, he is getting positive exposure on at least one Fox News show. He has the backing of Ron Paul, the Republican Liberty Caucus, and the 9/12 Project."

"The New Mexico Republican Party has its head in the sand. If you have friends and family in New Mexico, make sure they know who the real Adam Kokesh is."

Kokesh is a freak. I’m not surprised the hardcore Paulestinians and Troofers are hooked up with him, given his activities protesting against the Iraq war.

There are ways to demonstrate support for the Second Amendment, but I don’t think this is a good one. It’s going to play right into the anti-gunners’ hands. “ARMED MOB MARCHING ON WASHINGTON! EEK! WINGNUTS!”

The NRA, Republicans, and Conservatives need to get as much distance from this idiot as possible. The Left is salivating to connect him and his supporters to the Pro Gun movement and Conservatives which would be wrong but the left doesn’t care about facts when it comes to advancing their agenda.

This has to be a publicity stunt. A march of this type would not secure a permit thereby, under law, the assembly would be unlawful. The measures would devolve into the extreme probably with each side facing the other to the point of violence. Congress would go nuts, the media would go nuts, the zer0 crowd is already nuts, and this would serve to guarantee big trouble via legislation. I agree ... a very bad idea.

18
posted on 05/05/2013 9:24:43 AM PDT
by no-to-illegals
(Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)

Only DC police, Feds, and politicians should be allowed to carry loaded weapons. The serfs should crawl to them and beg for their rights to an air supply. It doesn’t matter what the freedom-wingers do, their enemies in the media will tar them with lies and hatred.

21
posted on 05/05/2013 9:36:01 AM PDT
by Neoliberalnot
(Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)

At this point in time, doing something that could/will get your ass thrown in jail is beyond stupid.
Talk about falling into a trap! Anyone that participates in any such march has fallen in it. And stepped in it.

22
posted on 05/05/2013 9:36:13 AM PDT
by Tupelo
(The Government lies, then the media lies to cover up the government lies.)

At what point does the populace marched arm on DC? Another rally in DC, probably just a waste of time. What about a group of 10,000 armed citizens standing across the River in Virginia? Regardless, the liberal media isn’t going to give a conservative movement positive publicity...ever. Worry about playing the games by their rules hasn’t worked yet, so why worry about it. Some of the liberal media barely get enough readers or watchers to make any bit of difference.

Joining the NRA? Why, so they can essentially give someone a positive rating on the 2nd Amendment, while the individual shreds the rest of the Constitution? I wish the NRA would stop preaching about our so called 2nd Amendment right, and starting talking about inalienable right/s. Want to stand behind the Constitution, grea. But what happens should it be amended and the 2nd Amendment ruled obsolete?

The question that no one seems to want to answer is where to place line that shouldn’t be crossed. The threshold for the Founding Fathers was a hell of a lot lower than what we are experiencing today...

25
posted on 05/05/2013 9:42:10 AM PDT
by voicereason
(The RNC is the "One-night stand" you wish you could forget.)

This protest will have no bearing on what the government will do in any case. It may rush it along a little, but this event will not define the heart and soul of this government...that has already been done. These people have a right to march, whether this government or you want to recognize that right is irrelevant.

30
posted on 05/05/2013 9:46:50 AM PDT
by Wpin
("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")

What I would like to see is a Million Magazine March.
Not rifles, not pistols, just 1 million gun owners showing up with empty, high capacity magazines. Still makes a statement, technically an act of civil disobedience ( although we can claim we’re on our way to a network broadcast)
but no threat of violence.

34
posted on 05/05/2013 9:53:59 AM PDT
by Kozak
(The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)

I agree that this is a bad idea at the present time, and I have my concerns about this particular organizer. However, keep in mind that Sam Adams used similar tactics. He provoked confrontations with the British that were used to turn the people against the British. We may need to consider such tactics at some point.

35
posted on 05/05/2013 9:56:46 AM PDT
by Defiant
(If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)

Only one problem with your post (imho). It is not yet time to become an outlaw and join the outlaws who claim to represent us (the People). That time may come though I pray it never shall; for at that point all semblance of the law shall dissolve. Should the time come ... I will stand with you then but for now am not interested in seeing all semblance of the law dissolved for this one single march.

36
posted on 05/05/2013 9:57:24 AM PDT
by no-to-illegals
(Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)

In the zer0 world of D.C. am not certain pitchforks would obtain a marching permit. D.C. is on edge. My thought for the reason D.C. is on edge is they know the People have figured out what D.C. is up to and realize the People know their representatives are not doing the Peoples business but are instead doing other nations business against the People. Imho, this would give D.C. plenty of reasons to go ahead and finish the People. Imho, the People are holding their own for the moment. The Senate did not pass the first step of registration of firearms. As long as this holds and the Supreme Court does not hand down a 5 - 4 decision against firearms ownership there is a reason to march but not in the fashion being proposed. Should a 5 - 4 decision be handed down in the Supreme Court against firearm ownership or should Congress enact legislation requiring firearm registration it would then be time (imho) to march with pitchforks, tar and feathers. Till then ... I pray the People will not do something stupid. We should wait till the Supreme Court or Congress does something stupid first (imho).

38
posted on 05/05/2013 10:01:30 AM PDT
by no-to-illegals
(Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)

Never. We want a divorce, not war. If they won't give us a peaceful divorce, they will be responsible for the violence. We will have to win in the hinterlands. The end resut might allow restoration of the Constitution over all of the US, or just a truce that allows the Red States to go their own way. Either way is fine with me, I have no interest in subjugating the commies of New England and the Pacific coast. Their empire will fall of its own accord soon enough, and they will eventually beg to return to the Free United States.

41
posted on 05/05/2013 10:13:48 AM PDT
by Defiant
(If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)

"[Kokesh] marched in uniform in mock patrols for the anti-war movement, paraded around holding an upside-down American flag (see Jonn Lilyea for more), was arrested for defacing signs, and traveled to Germany to urge soldiers to abandon their posts and seek aid and comfort with his anti-war minions. Kokesh, believe it or not, is now running as a Republican candidate for Congress in New Mexico. And, believe it or not, he is getting positive exposure on at least one Fox News show. He has the backing of Ron Paul, the Republican Liberty Caucus, and the 9/12 Project. The New Mexico Republican Party has its head in the sand. If you have friends and family in New Mexico, make sure they know who the real Adam Kokesh is. He is an anti-war smear merchant in GOP clothing. Spread the word."

What's his FR nick?

43
posted on 05/05/2013 10:29:39 AM PDT
by SunkenCiv
(Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)

[[The NRA, Republicans, and Conservatives need to get as much distance from this idiot as possible.]]

They need to come out right now and state emphatically that they are NOT associated with this fella- but of course, they will wait unti lthe damage is doen and hten try to patch the leaks in the boat with bubble gum

dang how times have changed, I can remember when I lived in SE DC up on 4th, street. We had a family friend who would take me shooting, it was a 3 mile walk to the rear of a place called Camp Simms, in the woods behind this National Guard site was an outdoor firing range, an open unattended site.

We would openly carry several firearms to our afternoon of shooting, including pistols, .45, 1911 model, 9MM luger, 12 ga pump, M1 garand, M1 carbine. Never in all the trips we made did we ever have anyone say anything to us or have the police come and talk to us, and I mean NEVER.

But this march is a bad idea, it shouldn’t be done on the 4th, and it needs more like 500,000 marchers.

46
posted on 05/05/2013 10:40:11 AM PDT
by stockpirate
(Planned Parenthood, murdering black children one baby at a time.......where is the outrage)

The question that no one seems to want to answer is where to place line that shouldnt be crossed.

Agreed. I'm surprised at the timidity of some posters on this thread. Does anyone want to expound on why this is such a "terrible" idea? I mean, at what point do we say "Enough!" We WILL fight you! And we WILL die if necessary to defend our rights. Better men and women than we have purchased these liberties at that great price. Should we, as heirs to their gift, be unwilling to make a similar sacrifice?

And I see that antiwars Justin Justine Raimondo has written a piece called The Coup, about how Big Business is going to murder Ron Paul.

These anti-war, supposedly libertarian, leftist are nuts. Many are paultards and are trying to infiltrate the conservative movement and become the face of the "new" Republican Party. The loon Ron Paul does support many of these people. Much as I like a lot of what Rand has done, I don't really trust him - I have a suspicion he is much more like his nutty father than he lets on.

The only time I plan on “marching on Washington” armed is if a current resident of the White House refuses to become a former resident of the White House. In that case, the people would hae to act.
As it is now, I will not mess with them as long as they don’t mess with me. No sense stirring up a hornet’s nest.

49
posted on 05/05/2013 10:46:59 AM PDT
by ez
(Muslims do not play well with others.)

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